The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-01

ANOTHER VICTIM.
A Z. P. Accident Causes the Death
OF an Engineer.

On Saturday evening, about CLOCK
frightfuI accident occurred on the
Union Pacific Railroad, at Almy juno
ton, which resulted in the death OF
Engineer Mark Murphy, and gave his
fireman, Joe Bowman, very close
cell,
Meagre news of the dreadful affair
reached this CRY, and was eagerly
sought for on Sunday morning, but
nothing further than that the accident
had occurred at some point this side of
Evanston, and that the unfortunate
engineer had lost his life, however
could be learned. Later it was reported
that the train, the regular express,
which was due at AS pm. Saturday
evening, would arrive in the city at
1.30, and would bring the body. The
arrival was afterwards placed at 2.45
and a large number of anxious friends
and curiosity seekers went to the depot
to await the arrival of the delayed eX-
press, which finally steamed into the
depo0at about pm. Sunday, The
train, however, did not bring the body
of the dead engineer IN as anticipated.
1t seemed the next thing to impossi-
Bile, as is usual IN such cases, to OBJ ain
particulars of the affair. but from
passengers who were in the wrecked
train, and from other sources it seems
that the accident occurred in sub
stantially the following manner, there
being several stories as to the primary
cause. One report says that snow
pillow was running ahead of the express
to clear the track, and as the latter was
compelled to follow the snow-ploW very
closely in order to receive the benefit.
and that the snoW-plow gotinto the dit, b.
and threw the express Oft. Another
story is to the effect that there was
broken rail which caused the fatal
catastrophe, and still another says
that the switch bar. which holds the
rails together had become bent, and
drew the two rails closer together, leaY-
ing the end OF a rail projecting, and
that the engine climbed the rail and
thus ran off into the ditch. The latter
is the story most generally accepted
though details differ as to Just what
occurred at the time Of running off the
track.
At any rate the engine left the track
and piled the tender and baggage car
up in a rather bad shape. The accident
occurred directly at the switch of the
Amy Junction, and it seems the ILL
fated engineer was thrown out and into
a pile of fine coal dust and loose snow
with a portion of the engine on him,
and it was some time before he could
be eXtricated, and when finally taken
out life was extinct. The physician
who was summoned said death resulted
from his being smothered.
His temple was cut and
a slight cut or bruise was inflicted on
the lower part of his face, the rest of
his body being uninjured. The fireman
was thrown violently to the ground and |
vas pinned fast by the engine cab, not |
being able to move. 1t was several
hours before he was found, and people |
we're at loss to know what had become |
Of him many fearing he had fallen into |
he fire box and been incinerated. |
When he was finally released, however, |
le was found to be unhurt. 1t seems |
hat the mail and baggage car were |
also thrown from the track, but ne one |
vas hurt except the engineer, Mark |
Murphy.
The body was brought into Ogden
IN the express train, Sunday even
ng, arriving at ~ O'CLOCK. MI
Murphy has been on the road fer |
about eighteen years, having had
IN engine for fifteen years. He was
known as one of the most careful
drivers on the whole road, never being
Known to show csrelessness in any par
.icuar. His engine had been in a
wreck some time before and had been
sent to the shops for repairs and was
only Just out again. His fireman, it
seems, objected to going back onto the
engine again and finally said that would
De the last time they would run her,
little dreaming, however, that his words
would have such a prophetic signiti
canoe.
Mr.. Murphy was man Of about 40
years of age and leaves wife and SIX
children: His father, DR.. Murphy, OF |
Salt Lake. and three brothers are now
n Ogden. The deceased was member
IF the society OF odd Fellows. The
.uneral will be held to-day.